Mold for production of a quartz glass component

Abstract

The mold wall forms the boundary of a cavity provided with a filling opening and is divided vertically into several segments, which are connected to each other in such a way that they can separate under the action of a force acting outward from the cavity. At least one pretensioned elastic element is installed outside the cavity, which is in effective contact with at least one segment, so that, because of the pretension, an elastic force acts on the segment in the direction toward the cavity. A tensioning element is provided to pretension the elastic element, this tensioning element being installed outside the mold wall to serve as an abutment for the elastic element, and that the elastic element be made of a creep-resistant material.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Mold for the production of a quartz glass component by melting, said mold comprising: a bottom,   a sidewall upstanding from said bottom and enclosing a cavity with an open top, said sidewall having a circumference, said sidewall comprising a plurality of segments each having vertical edges which abut vertical edges of adjacent segments, whereby said segments can separate under the action of outward radial forces from within the cavity,   pretensioned elastic means surrounding said wall segments, said elastic means beings resistant to creep at the melting temperature of the quartz, and   tensioning means outside said sidewall and abutting said elastic means to put said elastic means under tension; said tensioning means surrounding said elastic means and being spaced from said sidewall about the entire circumference of said sidewall.   
     
     
       2. Mold as in claim 1 wherein said tensioning means is carbon reinforced graphite. 
     
     
       3. Mold as in claim 1 wherein said elastic means comprises a plurality of leaf springs. 
     
     
       4. Mold as in claim comprising at least one leaf spring for each wall segment. 
     
     
       5. Mold as in claim 1 further comprising a spacer between said sidewall and said elastic means. 
     
     
       6. Mold as in claim 1 comprising a plurality of said elastic means surrounding said wall segments at different heights and a plurality of said tensioning means for putting said elastic means under tension. 
     
     
       7. Mold as in claim 1 wherein said sidewall is formed as a hollow cylinder, said vertical edges being profiled to form lap joints which remain in contact under radial force.